No doubt you’ve noticed at one time or another how difficult it is to feel joyful when your heart is filled with worry or discontent. Gratitude doesn't just make us feel better momentarily, it fundamentally transforms our perspective and opens the door to genuine celebration.

Do you sometimes wonder if all the things you own are actually owning you? I recently came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks: "We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like." This profound statement from Arthur Gish's book Beyond the Rat Race perfectly captures the materialistic treadmill many of us find ourselves running on without even realizing it.

What's the difference between someone who serves occasionally and someone who embodies servanthood as part of their identity? Why do some people seem to serve others with such joy, while others burn out quickly? The answer lies in understanding the connection between gratitude and service, a connection Jesus demonstrated for us perfectly.

Our culture seems to constantly push us to want more and more. Bigger homes, newer cars, the latest technology, it's the American way! But what if this endless pursuit of "more" is actually leading us away from what truly matters? What if the path to real abundance requires letting go rather than accumulating?